Winston Cup Race #33 of 36 for the 2003 Winston Cup season

Updated: often, leading up to the race

Scheduled Race Re-Air: on Speed Channel
a one-hour recap [called Fast Forward] of the race scheduled for:
Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00pm/et and again on October 30th at 1:00am/et;
and a full three-hour race show will re-air at 3:00pm/et on Thursday, October 30th

Notes: While this weekend's right-side tire code (D-6354) was originally brought to Atlanta back in March 2001, the left-side code (D-6358) made it's debut at this race last October . . . this is the only NASCAR track where this specific tire combination will be run in 2003 . . . however, this right-side tire will be used with a different left-side (D-6352) at two other tracks -- California Speedway and Michigan International Speedway . . . as on all ovals longer than one mile, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Atlanta . . . inner liner inflation should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

Goodyear Quote -- Mark Keto, Lead Engineer, Stock Car Tire Development: "Atlanta's track surface has the highest wear characteristics of any of the one-and-a-half-mile ovals that NASCAR goes to, and a unique set-up is required because of that. Having said that, this same surface promotes some of the best side-by-side racing on the circuit, with cars able to utilize the entire width of the race track through the corners."

RACE BONUS INFO

The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $330,000 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for leading the points and winning the race (Sterling Marlin last won the award, $20,000 at Darlington on March 17, 2002). The $360,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if the driver is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finishers in the drivers point standings(10-19-2003)

64 Races since... Leader bonus has been won. It's been 64 races since the NASCAR Winston Cup points leader won a race and took home the NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus. #17-Matt Kenseth leads the series points and has the only shot at claiming the bonus at AMS. Should a driver win the bonus, it would bypass the largest payout in the history of the program. #18-Bobby Labonte collected the biggest paycheck, $190,000, with a win at Indianapolis in 2000. The $10,000 bonus is available following every NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. If the point leader does not win the race, the bonus rolls over to the next week. Sterling Marlin last won the award, $20,000 at Darlington on March 17, 2002, it was NOT won by #15-Waltrip at Daytona, it rolled over to Rockingham.(10-19-2003)

IN-CAR AUDIO SITES

QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTSnews and links

Jeff Gordon wins at Atlanta: #24-Jeff Gordon wins the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his 2nd Cup win in a row, the 18th time in his career that he has won back-to-back races, it is his 3rd win of 2003 and his 64th career win. #20-Tony Stewart took 2nd place, followed by #48-Jimmie Johnson, #9-Bill Elliott and #18-Bobby Labonte. Points leader, #17-Matt Kenseth finished 11th and now leads the Drivers Points by 258 points with three races to go. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [finished 6th] moves back into 2nd in the points race. #01-Joe Nemechek had a nice run in his first race in the U.S. Army Pontiac and nice run by #4-Kevin Lepage, who came home 14th. Pole sitter was running 6th with three laps to go when he hot wiggly in front of the #8 and got tapped by Earnhardt Jr. and hit the wall hard [he is OK and showed his displeasure].

The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway IS OVER:
The UNOFFICIAL Top Ten (start pos in parens), lap leaders, cars out, cautions and some notes
after 325 of 325 laps:

RACE NOTES: (as noted on TV or PRN Radio)
----- on lap 312, smoke coming from the #16, possible tire rub?
----- look for green flag pit stops around lap 280-288 range [unless we have a caution].
----- on lap 255, #24-Gordon, who is running the high line, came close to hitting the wall, but saved it.
----- #32-Craven is back on the track as of lap 240, getting repairs for an accident.
----- more problems on the #20 car during caution 9 pit stops, went from 2nd to 17th.
----- #7-Spencer came into pit during the 8th caution and ended up over shooting his pit and went back out and will come back in to pit.
----- #20-Stewart's crew had a lugnut fall off and caused a longer pit stop then usual, so he fell from 1st to 4th after the 8th caution.
----- Buddy Parrott on the pitbox with son Todd Parrott in the #38 pits.
----- #5-Labonte is back on the track 7 laps down after getting a new radiator installed.
----- #17-Kenseth topped off with gas, others on the tail end of the leaders came into pit during the 7th caution, also #8-Earnhardt Jr. came into pit while running 3rd, none of the other top 10 came in.
----- #17-Kenseth came in to top off, #12-Newman pitted but didn't top off as he had a vibration, so no rule was broken for the Lucky Dog.
----- #17-Matt Kenseth came into pit and get tires and have the rear crush panel looked at. Six others drivers on the tail end of the leaders came in to pit.
----- #22-Wimmer was warned by NASCAR to stop speeding down pit road.
----- all the lead laps cars came in to pit during the 5th caution.
----- #6-Martin and #30-Park got together on lap 133 and Park has a tire rub on the left front.
----- NASCAR is penalizing #97-Busch on lap 112 for passing cars under the yellow while leading on Caution 4, and had to go to the tail end of the longest line.
----- #38-Sadler was too fast exiting pit road and was penalized, will go to the tail end of the longest line.
----- seemed there was some scoring errors and #29-Harvick and #24-Gordon were a lap down after pitting under the green, #97-Busch passed them after the yellow flag was shwon, #7-Spencer slowed down and was miffed as Busch passed him when he thought the yellow went out, but the lights were not on.
----- #40-Marlin made a few stops as his radio was out and the team repaired it on caution 4.
----- green flag pit stops occurred around the lap 97-103 range.
----- #0-Burton pitted on lap 95, wasn't happy with the car, green flag stops should start soon.
----- #17-Kenseth pitted many times to get a rear crush panel repaired during the 3rd caution.
----- on lap 42 #97-Busch to pitted before the green flag to get pit road accident damage re-paired,
----- #38-Sadler made a bunch of stops to correct the car during the 2nd caution before the red flag.
----- during caution 2 pits, #97-Busch and #74-Raines got together on pit road.
----- #41-Mears was penalized for passing on the right before the green flag [act of passing] before the start/finish line. Also #88-Jarrett and #21-Rudd pitted and took on tires.

StockCarFans.com - Rumblings - Atlanta: Jeff Gordon held off Tony Stewart to take the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 one day late at Atlanta Motor Speedway this afternoon....and, as is often the case, it came down to pit stops. Tony's crew had a problem two stops from the end and he couldn't catch up. If was the 3rd victory for Gordon on the season, the 64th of his career (he's 12 wins behind the late Dale Earnhardt in 7th on the all-time list), his 4th at Atlanta, the 117th for Hendrick Motorsports....and it was worth $249,978 from the over $5.3M in posted awards.
Bobby Labonte (5th) had his best finish since he was 5th at Daytona in July.
Jimmy Spencer (9th) had his best finish since he was 8th at The Brickyard in August.
Ward Burton (13th) had his best finish since he was 13th at Bristol in August. This was also the best finish for the NetZero "0" car in it's
brief history....their previous best was 14th at the Daytona 500 with Jack Sprague.
Kevin Lepage (14th) had his best finish since he was 10th at Talladega in October of 2001
Tony Raines (18th) had his best finish since he was 16th at Pocono in July.
STREAKIN....Jeff Gordon has 6 Top-5's in a row. Tony Stewart has 6 Top-5's in a row. Jimmie Johnson has 6 Top-10's in the last 7 races.
This Week's Elevator...UP: Operator of the Week (for the 4th time this season) is Matt Kenseth (+26), followed by Sterling Marlin (+24), and Tony Stewart (+22). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Brian Vickers (-39), followed by Todd Bodine (-35), Ryan Newman (-28), and Michael Waltrip (-25).
Tony Raines led a lap today (#289 to be precise) for the first time in his Cup career. He becomes the 47th different driver to lead a lap this season, surpassing last year's number of 46.
What little chance Kevin Harvick had of catching Matt Kenseth disappeared today with his 20th place finish. Dale Earnhardt Jr has now moved past Kevin into second place...but still 258 points out of the lead. The "Magic Number" has now ballooned to 21st place. Even in Matt finishes last the final three events, Jr would still have to run 14th or better to win. Matt needs a lead of 370 to be crowned Champion
next week (unlikely)...a lead of 302 (only 45 more than he has now) would give him a clinch just by starting the final two events.(StockCarFans.Com Winstoncup Newsletter)(10-27-2003)

Happy Hour Practice for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is over. The fastest was #97-Kurt Busch at 187.297mph and #35-Bobby Hamilton Jr. [dark horse for a good run?] at 187.032, the rest of the top 10 were #'s 2,25 [Vickers], 41,7,30,48,20,12 [pole sitter]. Slowest were #37-Cope at 177.493 and #74-Raines at 180.905.
See all the speeds at ThatsRacin.com - Practice 3 [Happy Hour](10-25-2003)

To the Back: #6-Mark Martin lost an engine early in Friday's practice and will have to fall to the rear of the field on Sunday before the drop of the green flag at Atlanta. Martin was to start 39th using a provisional.(10-24-2003)AND #0-Ward Burton crashed in Saturday's first practice and had to go to a backup and will also fall to the rear of the field before the green flag, Ward was to start 29th.(10-25-2003)

Parts Confiscated from Two Teams: NASCAR inspectors confiscated the carburetor from the #0 NetZero Pontiac driven by Ward Burton during pre-qualifying inspection Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The size of the venturis - components in the carburetor that can dictate the flow - exceeded the maximum diameter under NASCAR rules. NASCAR officials said the #0 team likely faces a penalty, which should be announced sometime this week. Also taken this weekend were unapproved valence spacers from BACE Motorsports' #74 Chevrolet driven by Tony Raines.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-27-2003)

1st Saturday Practice at Atlanta is over. Fastest was #29-Harvick at 189.746mph and #12-Newman at 189.500 followed by #'s 9,97,18,5,48,42,8,17. Slowest were #37-Cope at 177.567 and #02-Sadler at 180.018.
See all the speeds at ThatsRacin.com - Practice 2.(10-25-2003)

Newman wins pole #9 of 2003: #12-Ryan Newman won the Budweiser Pole for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a speed of 194.295mph, the fastest qualifying lap of the season. #18-Bobby Labonte is on the outside pole at 194.016, the rest of the top 10 are #8-Earnhardt Jr., #25-Vickers, #9-Elliott, #38-Sadler, #54-Bodine, #01-Nemechek, #48-Johnson and #29-Harvick. Points leader, #17-Matt Kenseth had to use a provisional and will start 37th. Part timers who made the race include #37-Cope (starts 23rd), #02-Sadler (34th) and #35-Hamilton Jr.(36th). Two full time teams missed the race #43-Jeff Green and #14-Larry Foyt. For more, qualifying speeds, practice vs. qualifying speeds, pole progression, other result links on my Jayski's Atlanta Grid/Qualifying Page.(10-24-2003)

Pole Progression at Atlanta Motor Speedway: (who had the pole first, who got it next and who ended up with it)
#38-Elliott Sadler, 1st out to qualify, 192.140, starts 6th
#12-Ryan Newman, 28th out, 194.295, starts 1st
(10-24-2003)

Friday Practice: is over for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The fastest were: #12-Ryan Newman at 193.252 and #25-Brian Vickers at 192.260, rest of the top 10 were: #'s 38,18,77,54,97,24,29,1. Slowest were #27-Shelby Howard at 180.451 and #79-Billy Bigley Jr. at 184.253. No speed listed for #89-Morgan Shepherd however he was not on the entry list, may had been left on the live scoring page of nascar.com as 50 are listed on that and 49 on the qualifying order.
See speeds at ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(10-24-2003)

Qualifying Order is up for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 49 cars are listed, the #50 Foyt Racing Dodge that was on the entry list, is not on the qualifying order. First driver scheduled to go out is #38-Elliott Sadler. Last driver scheduled to go out is #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. For the links see above.(10-24-2003)

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

How to break a tie during qualifying?(same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski's Provisional Status page

TRACK/RACE NEWS

Grand Marshals at Atlanta: Hunter Moates from Daviston, Alabama and Zachary "Z-man" Morgan from Lebanon, Missouri have been named as Grand Marshal's at Atlanta this weekend. Hunter has been named one of the Grand Marshals this Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Grandpa Jim Ryan and Grandma Angie Ryan, both members of the RedHead Pro Hunting Team, say Hunter is taking this all in stride. What else can you expect though from a 6-year old who has already called in many a wild turkey and even an elk for his "granny." Z-man is a 10-year old who loves to fish and is a devout NASCAR fan with a smile as big as his heart. He will take part in the official start of Sunday's race. NASCAR drivers who competed in the first Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 in Atlanta back in March still remember the outgoing youngster on crutches making his way through the pit area greeting every driver he saw. Zachary suffers from cerebral palsy but that doesn't stop him from doing just about anything he wants to do.
Since Sunday's race has been dedicated to America's sportsmen and celebrating the National Wildlife Refuge System in honor of its
Century of Conservation success, it is only fitting that the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Steve Williams also be named as a
Grand Marshal. Williams previously served as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and was confirmed by the Senate as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January 2002 where he oversees the operations of the nation's primary wildlife conservation agency.
NASCAR fan, legendary angler and TV host Hank Parker has also been named as one of the Grand Marshals of the race. The CBS Morning Show best described Hank Parker when introducing him as "the rod-n-reel answer to Michael Jordan, in popularity and talent!" The two-time BassMaster's Classic Champion finished "in the money" in 76 percent of all the tournaments he fished during his career. Parker's son, Hank Parker Jr., will be driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in the Bass Pro Shops/Remington #8 car during the Busch Series race on Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

Traffic Alert at Atlanta: In preparation for this weekend's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway and state officials have released the following traffic tips and traffic plan outline. Please help us remind race fans as to the best routes for incoming and outgoing traffic leading up to race weekend. Overview of Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 traffic plan The concept will remain unchanged from the spring race: if you come in from the north, you'll leave from the north. If you come in from the south, you'll leave from the south. For directions and more info, see the www.atlantamotorspeedway.com site.(10-23-2003)

Grand Opening of the NEW HMS; Fans can drive the track: The NEW Homestead-Miami Speedway with its re-designed 20-degree, variable banking debuts on Saturday, October 25 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Fans First Weekend where Ford Championship Weekend ticketholders have the opportunity to drive their own personal vehicles on the new Speedway. Then on Monday, October 27, the Richard Petty Driving Experience visits the NEW Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ultimate Race Experience Media Challenge. Speedway Officials along with local dignitaries dedicate the NEW Homestead-Miami Speedway in a ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the ribbon-cutting, the first-ever laps around the completed Homestead-Miami Speedway are taken by race fans who contributed toward the decision to add banking to the new Speedway during Fans First Weekend. Ticketholders to Ford Championship Weekend are eligible to drive their own personal vehicles around the new Speedway. More info at the Homestead-Miami Speedway site.(10-23-2003)

Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night Tix: With adult tickets just $20 and children under 16 admitted free, the Friday, Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be one of the best deals in all of racing. It will be the first night qualifying session for the NASCAR Winston Cup cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the track’s 43-year history. But there will be much more than just that at Friday’s Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night. After the qualifying session is over, the Goody’s Dash cars will rumble on the quarter-mile Thunder Ring, the frontstretch oval, for the Brawny 150 Presented by Pork The Other White Meat. The final event of the 2003 season for the Goody’s Dash series, this race is sure to have some fireworks of its own. But the fun starts well before the sun goes down. Gates open at noon and the Busch Series drivers will qualifying for the Aaron’s 312 beginning at 1:40 p.m. The Winston Cup drivers will practice from 3:20-5:20 p.m., and the Busch Series happy hour will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. All told, that’s at least 11 hours of racing for just $20 – and children under 16 are still free! All seats for Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night are general admission. To purchase your tickets, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, or visit your nearest Ticketmaster location.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

Air Force Pre-Race Stuff: Fans who arrive early for the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be treated to a spectacular show in the sky above the speedway. The U.S. Air Force Pre-Race Extravaganza will begin at 11 a.m. on Oct. 26 and continue until the on-track activities begin at 12:30 p.m. Flyovers will include National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, Air Force A-10s and an F-117 Stealth Fighter. The Air Force Jump Team will take part in a special jump over the raceway, and the Air Force Ceremonial Band and the Dixieland Band will both be performing. Along with the planes, helicopters, musicians and paratroopers, the Air Force will also bring special VIP Brigadier General Edward A. Rice, Jr. Rice is the Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service located at the Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-22-2003)

Speed Zone still has Tix: Just a few days remain to purchase tickets to the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent on the morning of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, which will feature appearances by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Sterling Marlin. Tickets will be available through Saturday, Oct. 25, and a limited number of seats remain. Interested fans should call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211. More info and driver scedhule on my Driver Appearances page.(10-21-2003)

Lap Sponsors at Atlanta: Want to hear the rumble of engines? Watch the crew work feverishly on a car as race day approaches? Maybe even catch a glimpse of your favorite driver? Then you'll want to take a look at the lap sponsorship package for the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend. Lap sponsors will have a lap to call their own in the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. They will also receive two coveted passes into the pre-race pit area, the heart of the action during any race weekend. The pits are open Friday through Sunday, giving race fans a true behind-the-scenes look at the entire weekend. Not only that, lap sponsor will also receive a pair of tickets to the Friday, Oct. 24 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Brawny 150 presented by Pork The Other White Meat, as well as tickets to the Saturday, Oct. 25 Aaron's 312 Busch Series race. Cost for this amazing package chock full of excitement and behind-the-scenes action costs $300. As always, fans must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire to entire the pit area. Tickets for Sunday's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 are not included. Lap sponsorships and tickets for all three days of racing during the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend are available now by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

National Anthems at Atlanta: Mercury Records recording artist Mark Wills will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wills will be reprising his role as anthem singer; he also performed “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the 1999 fall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wills’ most recent chart-topper, “19 Something” topped the singles charts for seven weeks and set a record for most plays for one song during a single week.AND Virginia native and American Idol 2 finalist Alden Wynn will perform “The Star Spangled Banner” for the Oct. 25 Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race. Wynn, 25, is best known as the “buff, blond party boy” who was cast away from American Idol despite a rousing rendition of Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be.”(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(10-21-2003)

Atlanta Wants a Night Race: As Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark watched the Winston Cup cars circle Lowe's Motor Speedway under the lights Saturday night, he couldn't help but think about how much he'd like to see his own facility host a night race. But he says his current dates, in early spring and late October, tend to be too cool for spectator comfort at night. "What I would like to see is the spring event moved later in the year and run at night," Clark said. But to get the early June date he'd like would mean disrupting some other track's schedule. He knows that would be unfair. "But I talk to NASCAR about it every three or four months to let them know that if they're changing dates around anyway to keep us in mind," he said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(10-14-2003)

Payout at Atlanta Increases: The payout for the 2003 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend will hit a record high $5,933,116, a 10 percent increase over last year’s record-setting purse and almost 130 times the purse of the first NASCAR event held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the 1960 Dixie 300. Back in that 1960 event, 45 drivers competed for a total of $39,000; this year, the winner alone will receive at least five times that amount. The Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR passed the $5 million mark for the first time in its 44-year history, jumping to a record $5,051,229 in prize money — up more than half a million dollars from the $4,495,544 awarded just a year ago. The Oct. 25 Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race will also offer a record purse, totaling more than $853,087. Last year’s event guaranteed $775,278, an increase of 10 percent.(AMS PR)(10-14-2003)

Atlanta offers Speed Fan Zone Packages: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch and Sterling Marlin will all be at Atlanta Motor Speedway's Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent on the morning of the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. For as little as $89 per person, you could be too. Due to popular demand, there are now two packages currently available for the race morning Speed Zone fan hospitality tent, but space is limited and seats are going quickly. The packages available are:
Speed Zone -- $89
Speed Zone PLUS -- $199
For more information about the Speed Zone Fan Hospitality tent, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or see the Atlanta Motor Speedway site.(9-20-2003)

Pit Passes at Atlanta: Want to hear the rumble of engines? Watch the crew work feverishly on a car as race day approaches? Maybe even catch a glimpse of your favorite driver? Then you'll want to take a look at one of the three different packages for the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend that include pre-race pit passes. As always, fans must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire to entire [long pants, no open toed shoes] the pit area. Standalone pit passes and ticket packages for all three days of racing during the Oct. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend are available now by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211. Tickets for the Oct. 26 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 are not included.(AMS PR)(9-10-2003)

Truck Race at Atlanta? UPDATE yes, it is official: NASCAR and officials from Atlanta Motor Speedway are exploring the possibility of the 1.54-mile speedway in Hampton, Ga., hosting a NASCAR Truck series race in 2004, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The series currently runs two races a season at Texas Motor Speedway and one at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., both similiar tracks to Atlanta and owned by the same company, Speedway Motorsports Inc. The Atlanta race would likely be held in conjunction with one of its two Winston Cup weekends next season. The dates for next season's races at Atlanta are March 14 and Oct. 31.(Thatsracin.com)(8-1-2003)UPDATE: Dodge drivers Bobby Hamilton and Chad Chaffin tested their NASCAR Truck series entries at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week. The track is expected to be added to the series’ 2004 schedule. "That track is fast and tough," Hamilton said. "It's different driving the trucks there because they are so rough. A Winston Cup car drives smooth around that track, and really fast. If they ever got a race there, it would be a good one, though. The trucks put on a good show in Charlotte; Atlanta would be similar." Rick Crawford also had planned to test his new 2004 model Ford at the track last week, but engine problems prevented his team from getting much done.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-30-2003)UPDATE 2: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced today that the speedway has added a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race to its 2004 event schedule. The inaugural 200-mile event will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2004, as part of the Golden Corral 500 weekend. "We thought long and hard about how we could beef up our spring race schedule, and what kind of event the fans really wanted to see," said Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark. "What really convinced me is that the fans have been asking us to run a truck race for years. And after watching them test here many times, and watching a bunch of great truck races, I agree with them that this will be a great, close race with tons of action for the fans." The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series already races at Atlanta Motor Speedway's sister tracks, Texas Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway, and many truck drivers have expressed interest in racing at Atlanta as they have tested at the high-banked track over the years. Atlanta Motor Speedway will kick off its 2004 season with the March 12-14 Golden Corral 500 weekend. Great seats are available for all three days of racing action through the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211(AMS PR)(9-2-2003)

Ticket manager retires: Through ownership changes, financial woes, a track reconfiguration and an explosion in the growth of the track and of NASCAR, one thing remained constant at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- the reliable services provided by ticket manager Frances Goss. On Friday, Goss called it a career. "I've spent the last 38 years having fun, and by retiring I get a chance to expand my horizons for having fun," Goss said. "I'm sad to be leaving everyone here, but the plan now is to have a little more time to enjoy life and my family." Goss said the changes the speedway has undergone since she went to work there in 1965 are mind-boggling. "It's gone from a paved circle in the mud to one of the premier racing facilities in the nation," she said.(AJC)(8-31-2003)

Atlanta Announcement UPDATE new spring race title sponsor: Ed Clark, President of Atlanta Motor Speedway, is scheduled to make a major announcement Saturday, August 23rd at the Bristol Motor Speedway infield media center.(AMS PR)(8-22-2003)UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Golden Corral, the family-style restaurants specializing in the biggest and best buffet and grill available anywhere, will be the title sponsor of the track's spring NASCAR Winston Cup race. Next year's event, the March 14 Golden Corral 500, will be the first of the new three-year partnership. Golden Corral, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has 470 restaurants across 40 states - 352 franchised and 118 company-operated. Nation's Restaurant News has ranked Golden Corral No. 1 in the grill-buffet segment for seven consecutive years, and Entrepreneur has named Golden Corral the No.1 franchiser in the family steakhouse category for eight straight years. Success magazine gave Golden Corral a perfect 5-Star rating for franchisee satisfaction, based on an independent survey. Atlanta Motor Speedway has played host to an annual spring NASCAR race since the running of the inaugural Dixie 300 in 1960. The next year, the event was lengthened to 500 miles. Tickets for the Golden Corral 500 weekend are already on sale, and great seats remain. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(8-24-2003)

Atlanta 2004 Race Dates are...: Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark confirmed that Atlanta Motor Speedway will host Nextel Cup races on March 14 and Oct. 31 next season. These are basically the same dates the track had this year, except the 500-miler in the fall will be on Halloween Day.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-2-2003)

Atlanta Expands Ticket Office Hours: With less than three months left until the Georgia 500 weekend Oct. 24-26 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the action has already picked up at Atlanta Motor Speedway - and right now, it's the ticket office that's hopping. Ticket manager Frances Goss has expanded ticket office hours from now until race time to accommodate the rush, staying open seven days a
week. From now until race weekend Oct. 24-26, the ticket office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There are still plenty of fabulous ticket specials and other
opportunities for fans to take advantage of. For more information about tickets and packages, call the ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or see www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(7-30-2003)

Dale Jr at AMS's Speed Zone: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be the guest of honor at Atlanta Motor Speedway's Speed Zone Fan Hospitality Area before the start of the Oct. 26 Georgia 500. Earnhardt Jr. will make his appearance at the Speed Zone hospitality tent on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 26. The names of other drivers to appear at Speed Zone, will be announced over the next several weeks. The exact appearance schedule will be released the week prior to the Georgia 500. Earnhardt will be on hand to answer questions from fans that purchase the Speed Zone package. In addition to the driver appearances, Speed Zone attendees will receive a pre-race pit pass, continental breakfast, lunch buffet, a souvenir racing program and non-alcoholic beverages. This one-day Speed Zone package is available for $199 and is on sale now. Race fans can purchase the Speed Zone package by calling the speedway at (770) 946-4211. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or the all-new Speed Zone with Dale Earnhardt Jr., call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at
(770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(7-16-2003)

Road Improvements for AMS: Atlanta Motor Speedway, which enjoyed record attendance for both its recent Winston Cup races, is looking forward to taking out a nagging roadblock for racing fans -- traffic jams getting to and from the track. The state Department of Transportation has already started work on widening Georgia 20, the two-lane, 15-mile stretch of 22 traffic lights from the speedway to Interstate 75. The road will be converted into a four-lane parkway that will bypass Hampton, to be completed by 2005. "Traffic is bad for every Winston Cup race weekend," said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This should be a marked improvement." Clark does not expect the work will seriously affect race-day traffic between this fall's Georgia 500 race and the 2005 season. In the meantime, the speedway and local officials are working to synchronize lights and take other measures to make it easier on fans, he said. "We had a better traffic pattern plan in March, and it worked better," he said. The 2003 Georgia 500 Oct. 24-26 includes the Winston Cup Georgia 500, as well as the Friday Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Aaron's 312 Busch race on Saturday.(Atlanta Business Chronicle)(6-2-2003)

Got a 2004 race date: been told that folks are getting renewals for the spring 2004 Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the date being March 14th, 2004.(5-14-2003)

Georgia-Pacific renews sponsorship with Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced that Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific has renewed its title sponsorship of NASCAR Winston Cup's Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night. Under terms of the new agreement, Georgia-Pacific will continue to back the fall qualifying session. Georgia-Pacific's paper towel brand, Brawny, will also sponsor the 150-lap Goody's Dash Race following qualifying. The 2003 Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night and Brawny 150 are slated for Friday, Oct. 24, and tickets are on sale now for just $15. For more information on that or the rest of the weekend's activities - including Saturday's Aaron's 312 Busch race or Sunday's Winston Cup race, call Ticketmaster or the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR/site)(5-9-2003)

Atlanta Pit Passes: For the first time, Atlanta Motor Speedway will offer a limited number of Friday-only pre-race pit passes for just $50 when purchased in conjunction with a Georgia-Pacific Qualifying Night ticket. For just $50, fans will have the chance to be inside the highly coveted pit area, in the heart of the racing activity. Pre-race pit passes are good Friday until just prior to the Goody's Dash event, which will take place on the frontstretch quarter-mile track, Thunder Ring. Pre-race pit passes are not good for gate admittance and must be accompanied by a grandstand ticket. Tickets for all three days of racing excitement during the Oct. 24-26 Georgia 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are on sale now. For more information about tickets or the all-new pre-race pit passes, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(5-8-2003)

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

Lipton Sides Joins the #77 as an Assoc for Atlanta: Lipton Sides, a Unilever Bestfoods brand, is joining forces with Jasper Motorsports this weekend in Atlanta to take advantage of the sponsor benefits NASCAR has to offer by promoting Lipton Sides. Lipton Sides will be displayed prominently on the hood and quarter panels of the #77 Jasper Engines and Transmissions Ford Taurus in an
effort to increase brand awareness among the 100,000 plus fans that will converge at Atlanta Motor Speedway, not to mention the millions of race fans who will attend by proxy through national television coverage on NBC. Understanding the hectic everyday life most Americans lead, Lipton Sides is positioned as an option to complete a meal in a hurry. They have harnessed the consumers’ need for an easier side dish and with more than 40 varieties of rice, pasta and noodle flavors the options are virtually endless. Cindy Lewis who looks after the Jasper Engines and Transmissions Racing Team as ‘Team Mom’ and prepares their meals is excited to about partnering with Lipton Sides. “The schedule does not always allow a lot of time for the guys to eat but I make sure they always have a good meal,” said Lewis. “With Lipton Sides all I have to do is worry about the main course. Lipton® Sides take 10 minutes [to prepare]. That leaves a lot of time for me to make sure the whole team eats.”(Jasper Motorsports PR)(10-24-2003)

Buckshot back - to run Atlanta: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) and Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership are pleased to announce Georgia native Buckshot Jones will drive the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine Chevy in the Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 26, 2003. The car will be prepared and crewed by MWR's NASCAR Busch Series team coordinated by crew chief, Bobby Kennedy. The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 will mark Jones' return to Winston Cup racing since his 17th-place finish in the #09 Dodge at the Daytona International Speedway in July. Buckshot has 55 Winston Cup starts in his career with a best finish of eighth at Dover in 1998.
"Bobby Kennedy always likes to stay in touch with the Winston Cup Series and this is an opportunity to test the waters and do so in Buckshot and Aaron's backyard," explained Waltrip.. "Buckshot has the talent and the determination it takes to run well in any NASCAR series and his testing efforts have shown us he'll proudly don the Aaron's Dream Machine colors in the Cup race. Buckshot and I have been trying to put something together for a while now, and it just makes sense to have a Georgia driver and a Georgia sponsor in the race just outside of Atlanta (Ga.).. Everyone involved is looking forward to making this happen.. Aaron's is the sponsor for the Busch race on Saturday and will have many of their employees and customers in town.. It just makes since to expand Aaron's involvement over the course of the entire weekend."
"I'm excited," Jones said. "I know Michael and Bobby put together fast racecars everywhere they go.. We tested earlier this year and our times were fast enough to be in last year's top-10.. I love Atlanta Motor Speedway and can't wait to get down there, turn some laps and challenge myself to a top-10 finish in the Aaron's Dream Machine."
"Aaron's is in the business of making dreams come true, and we are going to help Buckshot realize his dream of returning to the Winston Cup Series," said Ken Butler, President of Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership. "By letting Buckshot race the Dream Machine in Atlanta, someone may come along and give him that full-time job he's been looking for and we'll enjoy watching an Aaron's car race toward the front on Saturday and Sunday." The Georgia 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is scheduled for October 26, 2003 at 1:00 PM and will be broadcast live on NBC and PRN radio.(Aaron's PR)(8-26-2003)

Mike Wallace in the #09 for six races: Mike Wallace will drive the #09 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Dodge, owned by James Finch, in six Cup races through the end of the season. Wallace finished ninth in Finch's car in the season opening Daytona 500. "I'm excited to be teaming up with James Finch and the Miccosukee Indian Gaming people again," said Wallace. "It's no secret that James brings good equipment to every race and I'm looking forward to the six races that we've been able to put together." Wallace will drive Winston Cup races at the following tracks: Richmond on Sept. 6; Talladega on Sept. 28; Kansas on Oct. 5; Atlanta on Oct. 26; Phoenix on Nov. 2; and Homestead on Nov. 16. "Back at the beginning of the season, James and I looked at a schedule like this," continued Wallace. "But, as the season went on I had the chance to drive for the Army and we put this on hold. As things worked out, I'm available again and I appreciate being able to put this deal together. I look forward to all the tracks that we're racing on. Talladega is one that I really look forward to along with Phoenix where I had my career best Winston Cup finish, a second, in 2001. "Driving for James, we'll be strong at each race." Along with the six NASCAR Winston Cup Series races, Wallace will continue at the wheel of the #4 GEICO Chevy for Busch Series competition.(Biagi Bros PR)(8-26-2003)

Fan’s Face Finds Hood Of 1 800 CALL ATT Dodge: Robert Underwood probably never figured he could take the place of nationally-known comedian Carrot Top. But the native of South Elgin, Ill., located just outside of Chicago, will do just that this weekend at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway. His face will adorn the hood of the #49 1 800 CALL ATT Dodge of driver Ken Schrader and his BAM Racing team. Underwood won a nationwide consumer promotion by 1 800 CALL ATT, and will have his face on the hood of the car where Carrot Top’s has been. nderwood will also be at the NASCAR Winston Cup race this weekend as guest of 1 800 CALL ATT and BAM Racing. The winner was chosen at random last week from amongst the hundreds of thousands of callers who placed collect calls using 1 800 CALL ATT during the promotion, which began right after Labor Day.(Williams Company PR)(10-21-2003)

Special Scheme for Marlin at Atlanta: Coors Light will be highlighting their support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this race season with a special paint scheme at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Sterling Marlin, driver of the #40 Coors Light Dodge will display a special pumpkin themed paint scheme at the Georgia 500 at the end of October. Coors Brewing Company has been a national sponsor of the St. Jude Halloween Pin-Up Program since 1994. The program, in which nearly 600 Coors Light distributors and 35,000 Coors Light retail accounts participate, allows patrons to purchase a paper pumpkin cut out with the proceeds donated directly to St. Jude’s. Through this eight year program, Coors has raised more than $17 million during the month of October to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-21-2003)

#77 to display flag and decals: On Thursday, October 23, 2003, the # 77 Jasper Engines and Transmissions Racing Team along with driver, Dave Blaney, and team co-owner, Mark Harrah, will land at Robins Air force Base to attend a ceremony where they will receive a flag that was flown during Operation Iraqi Freedom in April and express their gratitude to Air Force and the Air National Guard for their services in support of the ground force troops. Prior to the flag presentation from Colonel James Jones, Commander, 116th Operations Group, Harrah and Blaney will unveil the #77 Jasper Engines and Transmissions Ford Taurus the team plans to run at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The deck lid of the car will boast special decals honoring the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center and 116th Air Control Wing logos on the trunk. The ceremony will take place in front of the E-8C aircraft, also known as the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (J-STARS). JSTARS is the airborne battlefield management and peacekeeping system. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, JSTARS flew more than 50 missions in the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan.(Jasper Motorsports PR)(10-21-2003)

Cat in the Hat Schemes: hearing some some drivers will run special Cat in the Hat schemes at Atlanta in October, so far the only driver known is Michael Waltrip in his Busch #99 Aarons/Cat in the Hat Chevy, also World of Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski will run the scheme, maybe Tony Stewart in Cup?(7-9-2003)UPDATE #57-Jason Keller has been added to the Cat in the Hat program.(8-18-2003)UPDATE 2: hearing #03-Kerry Earnhardt has been added for the Busch race.(9-4-2003)

GM Card scheme: Steve Park will run the #30 AOL GM card scheme at in Atlanta on October 26th.(8-19-2003)

Special UPS Scheme? UPDATE 3, it is official: hearing there may be an #88 UPS Store special scheme to be run later this year, not sure which track.(6-20-2003)UPDATE: the #88 UPS Store special scheme is for Atlanta in October; why the scheme do you ask? UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc. a few months back and are converting all the stores to UPS Stores.(6-20-2003)UPDATE 2: UPS will announce plans this weekend to run a special paint scheme later in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup season. The announcement is scheduled to take place at 3:00pm/et, on Friday, July 4th at the front entrance to Daytona USA.(Elevation Motorsports/UPS PR), hmm..was told by RYR just before Texas that the #88 would be making NO paint scheme changes and would NOT run any special schemes in 2003.....oops.(7-1-2003)UPDATE 3 - it is official - wonder where I hear this before.... UPS today announced plans to showcase The UPS Store on the #88 UPS Ford Taurus for the upcoming Georgia 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 26. The new paint scheme was unveiled today at Daytona International Speedway. The UPS Store car takes on a decidedly different flare from the normal paint scheme run by the #88 UPS Racing Team. UPS yellow is the predominant color on the car, and The UPS Store logo is featured on the hood, which is normally adorned with the new UPS shield logo that was introduced this past March. NASCAR enthusiasts and collectors can also look forward to the release of a unique 1:43 scale die-cast car that will commemorate the #88 The UPS Store race car run at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October. .The 1:43 scale car, which has not yet been released, will be made available later this fall exclusively through participating locations of The UPS Store. Beginning in September, race fans can also register to win a trip to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the October race as part of a special consumer promotion. Visitors to The UPS Store locations will discover a wide range of products and services, including UPS shipping at lower prices direct from UPS, full-service packaging, mailbox and postal services, black-and-white and color copying, document finishing, office and packaging supplies, and other business services. UPS acquired Mail Boxes, Etc., Inc. in 2001, and in April 2003, more than 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc. franchisees across the U.S. opted to convert their locations to The UPS Store brand. To find The UPS Store locations and other information, log on to www.theupsstore.com.(Elevation Group/UPS PR), have not seen any images of the car....yet.(7-4-2003)

Kenseth and Smirnoff Ice? UPDATE: hearing #17-Matt Kenseth will race either 8 Cup or 8 BGN races with Smirnoff Ice as the sponsor, the BGN thing makes sense, since he is running 15 races with Bayer/Alka Seltzer, not sure about the Cup part of the rumor.(1-25-2003)UPDATE: hearing this is for 8 Cup races, with at least one Richmond race to be part of it.(1-27-2003)UPDATE 2: Smirnoff Ice Triple Black will sponsor Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford in a limited program of 2003 Cup races, beginning with The Winston all-star race in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The program includes at least co-primary sponsorship of Kenseth's Ford Taurus, whose five wins in 2002 led the series, for eight races and secondary status for the balance of the season. The partnership includes driver appearances, the use of show cars and image rights, a large hospitality program and an extensive social responsibility agenda. A Smirnoff spokesperson said an advertising program was in the works featuring Kenseth, who said that was one of the "coolest" aspects of the program. Kenseth will drive the Smirnoff Ice car at The Winston, Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, Richmond (Sept), Talladega (Sept) and Atlanta (Oct). The race at Texas on March 30 is a co-primary event with Dewalt Tools.(NASCAR.com, see an image of the car there - do NOT email it to me)(2-8-2003)

SOME NOTES, RULES and NEWS

Lucky Dog now gets one pitstop: NASCAR is amending its "Lucky Dog" rule, which allows the first car one lap down to get the lap back when there is a caution. Starting Sunday at Atlanta, a driver who gets a lap back because of the rule can't make a second pit stop during that caution to top off with fuel. Ryan Newman used that strategy in his September win at Dover.(FoxSports/Sporting News), see the rule, past news and info on the rule on my Caution Rule page.(10-20-2003)

New rule for measuring minimum height: NASCAR issued a technical bulletin this week outlining changes in how the minimum height is measured of Winston Cup cars in pre-qualifying and pre-race inspections. Beginning with this weekend's race at New Hampshire, teams presenting cars for inspection of the minimum body height and minimum ground clearance must remove their front shock absorbers before the measurements are taken. The absorbers can be reconnected after the car has passed inspection.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-12-2003)

NASCAR to require Cup, Busch, Truck teams to add fuel cell area fire extinuisher: NASCAR officials announced today that all vehicles in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will require an additional fire-extinguishing cylinder solely dedicated to the fuel cell area, effective Aug. 13 but recommended immediately. An automatic, thermally activated discharge nozzle recommended by the manufacturer for this application must activate the cylinder, which is required to be made of DOT-approved metal. The automatic system may have a manual and/or pneumatic override from the driver-activated system. The cylinder must be mounted in the driver's compartment and will attach to a steel bracket welded to the frame and/or roll cage of the vehicle. When discharged, the extinguisher releases Halon in the area of the fire. Halon, a proven and extremely effective fire suppressant, is a liquefied compressed gas that stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. A minimum of 10 pounds of fire extinguishing agent is required in the cylinder for the fuel cell area. In addition to the fire extinguisher cylinder being added for the fuel cell area, NASCAR has enhanced its requirements and specifications for the current on-board driver protection system as well as the fuel cell vent area. The cockpit extinguisher, a manually controlled push or pull knob that activates a fully charged fire-extinguishing pressurized cylinder, now must contain a minimum of five pounds of extinguishing agent. Should the cylinder also be used for fire extinguishing in the engine compartment, it must contain a minimum of 10 pounds of extinguishing agent. The cylinder also must be securely mounted to the frame and/or roll cage, and hose clamps, worm drive clamps and cable ties are not permitted. In addition, all discharge lines and fittings for the cylinders must be steel or steel-reinforced hose although the nozzles may remain aluminum. A maximum length for the neck of the fuel cell check valve vent hose has been set at three inches. By limiting length, it will make the component more impact resistant. The neck connects the fuel cell to the fuel cell vent hose and is located inside the trunk area of the vehicle. To accommodate the maximum neck length standard, fuel cell vent hoses will increase in length from 60 inches to a maximum of 66 inches.(NASCAR PR)(7-30-2003)

New Gas Can Rule: Beginning with the July 13 race at Chicagoland Speedway, NASCAR will prohibit teams from throwing or tossing gas cans or gas catch cans over the pit wall during a pit stop. The change was announced in Sunday's prerace drivers' meeting.
If a violation happens under caution, the driver will have to restart at the end of the longest line. If it occurs under green-flag conditions, the driver must return to pit road to serve a 15-second penalty. The change is being made to reduce the liklihood of gas spills during pit stops.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-22-2003)

RACE ODDs

note: this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the
'experts' think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season